Press Release Summary: Gail Langer Karwoski\'s educational children\'s book, Julie the Rockhound (Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2007), illustrated by Lisa Downey, is the perfect pairing to Collect Rocks Day on September 16 for any young person interested in rock collecting and the natural world around them.
Press Release Body: Calling All Rockhounds… September 16 is all about rock collecting! Mount Pleasant, S.C. (September 9, 2008) - Whether at the beach or in your own backyard, exploring the natural world is a pastime for any curious mind. Most people cannot resist the urge to pick up a sand-washed stone or a sparkling rock that catches their eye. If you have been gathering stones your whole life or want to pique the interest of a budding, young naturalist, September 16 is a day to mark on your calendar; it’s Collect Rocks Day! Julie the Rockhound (Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2007) by Gail Langer Karwoski and illustrated by Lisa Downey tells the story of a young girl who finds a brilliant quartz stone in her backyard. Julie is exploring behind her new house when she discovers a sparkling rock sticking out of the rough terrain. Julie returns to the house with the rock and finds out from her father that the rock is a beautiful quartz crystal. Julie and her dad return to the backyard to look for more rocks and discover the magic of Earth’s rock collection. ROCK FACTS from Julie the Rockhound: • All rocks are made up of minerals, which are the basic “building blocks” of our world. • There are three different kinds of rocks in our world. They are sedimentary, made from different particles and materials that have built up over the years, igneous, made from cooled magma (lava) from volcanoes, and metamorphic, which have been changed from igneous or sedimentary rocks through great heat and pressure. • The Moh’s Hardness Scale measures the hardness of rocks and minerals. Crystal quartz is a seven on the scale of ten and diamond is the hardest! ACTIVITIES from Julie the Rockhound: • Learn how to become a rockhound yourself! Gather your materials and tools, such as a garden claw or shovel, and head out to the nearest wooded area, dried riverbed, or construction site and start digging for your own rocks. • Have you ever wondered what makes up your clothes, school supplies, or other daily items? Classify the objects in your kitchen or bedroom as coming from a plant, an animal, or a mineral. • To learn more about rocks and where they come from, visit the Julie the Rockhound homepage at http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/ChildrensBooks-JulietheRockhound.php.
For additional Celebration Days and free educational resources, visit the Sylvan Dell Publishing homepage, www.SylvanDellPublishing.com. ### About Sylvan Dell Publishing Sylvan Dell Publishing in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., is on a mission to excite children’s imaginations with artistically spectacular science, math and nature themed stories. Founded in November of 2004, Sylvan Dell’s family has grown to include more than 52 authors and illustrators in the U.S. and Canada, and 35 titles – honored as finalists or winners of more than 50 book awards. For more information about Sylvan Dell’s books, our educational resource grant, and free supplemental resources, visit www.SylvanDellPublishing.com, or contact Sara Dobie, Public Relations, at SaraDobie@SylvanDellPublishing.com or (877) 958-2600.
Web Site: http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com
Contact Details: 976 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Suite 3 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 toll free (877) 958-2600